Five immigrants from the Connemara Gaeltacht are confronted with the poverty of their lives in London when the sixth of their number, Jackie, is found dead on a railway-line. Construction boss Joe (Colm Meaney) battles a cocaine addiction whilst down-at-heel friends Jap (Donal O’Kelly) and Git (Brendan Conroy) battle alcoholism, as does their friend, Máirtín (Barry Barnes). Only small businessman Shay (Donncha Crowley) seems to have his life in order. As the five prepare for Jackie’s funeral, their nostalgia for Ireland and their complicity in Jackie’s probable suicide emerges. Noteworthy for its uncommon but plausible linguistic palette, Kings was Ireland’s choice for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards (2008). 

Screening in tribute to the late Tom Collins, a much-missed pillar of the Irish film community. 

Introduced by Tom’s daughter, film programmer Eibh O’Brien Collins. 

Notes by Sunniva O’Flynn